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04/03 23:47 CDT Mavs rookie Cooper Flagg scores 51 points to become first teen
to reach 50 in an NBA game
Mavs rookie Cooper Flagg scores 51 points to become first teen to reach 50 in
an NBA game
By SCHUYLER DIXON
AP Sports Writer
DALLAS (AP) --- Cooper Flagg didn't get a call, and his coach and a teammate
got kicked out of the game trying to stick up for the rookie No. 1 pick of the
Dallas Mavericks.
Less than a quarter later, Flagg was the first teenager to score 51 points in
an NBA game in Dallas' 138-127 loss to the Orlando Magic on Friday night.
Flagg scored 24 points in the fourth quarter after coach Jason Kidd and forward
Naji Marshall were ejected complaining about what they thought was a no-call
when Desmond Bane fouled Flagg.
Kidd was tossed even though he was assessed just one technical foul, while
Marshall had gotten another tech at the end of the first half. His second came
just moments after Kidd was thrown out.
"It's great to see," Flagg said after going 19 of 30 from the field and making
all seven of his free throws and topping his previous career high of 49 in a
123-121 to Charlotte on Jan. 29.
"I already know that coach has my back and Naji ... I know he has my back for
sure out there," Flagg said. "Just seeing their emotion, seeing them fight for
me and fight for the calls. Definitely some emotion, and motivated me even
further."
Flagg exited the game with 45 points, but assistant coach Frank Vogel, filling
in for Kidd, told the 19-year-old he was just resting him during a defensive
possession.
Vogel called a timeout to get Flagg back in with 3:22 remaining, and Flagg made
history a little more than a minute later. He missed a 3-pointer the first time
down, then missed a follow attempt on Brandon Williams' miss, got the rebound
again and made a corner 3.
On the next Dallas possession, he hit an off-balance shot in the lane while
getting fouled to clinch 50, made the free throw and left to a standing ovation.
The Mavericks were down 30 when Flagg started his fourth-quarter scoring
barrage in what ended up being their 14th consecutive home loss. It's the
longest home losing streak since Dallas lost the first 19 games at
since-demolished Reunion Arena in 1993-94.
"It's always fun getting into that type of mode," Flagg said. "The basket feels
big. My teammates are looking out for you, helping you out. But I like to win.
That was my main focus. It's hard for me to fully enjoy myself out there when
we're down 20, down 10, down 15, for the majority of the game."
Flagg said he thought it was obvious Bane had fouled him in the opening two
minutes of the fourth.
"I think it was warranted," Flagg said about Kidd's reaction. "I'm not going to
lie. I talked to Bane after the play, and he told me he was intentionally
trying to foul me. I honestly don't know how they didn't see that. Obviously,
they must not have had the right view, or they weren't paying attention. But
they missed it."
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
